Stroud District

The Local

A NS W E R

GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S BIGGEST LOCAL MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2019

STROUD DISTRICT OUR NEW ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY IS LIVE! DETTA AILS INSIDE

The The Lo Local c al

AN ANSWER SWER Stroud Stroud District: District: 41,000 41,000 ccopies opies Gloucester: Gloucester: 46,000 46,000 copies copies Cheltenham: Cheltenham: 43,000 43,000 copies copies Cotswolds: Cotswolds: 30,000 30,000 copies copies North Gloucestershire: N orth G loucestershire: 220,000 0,000 ccopies opies

October’s winning cover photo: Letitia Newbegin

Welcome Welcome ttoo O ctober October

M anaging D irector Managing Director Dave Dave K Kingscott ingscott dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk dave@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Marketing Marketing LLois ois K Kingscott ingscott llois@thelocalanswer.co.uk ois@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Sales Sales C Claudie laudie FFrancis rancis iinfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk nfo@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Sport Sport R Roger oger JJackson ackson ssport@thelocalanswer.co.uk port@thelocalanswer.co.uk

EEntertainment ntertainment TTom om H Hadfield adfield eentertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk ntertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Administration Administration Helen Kingscott H elen K ingscott Distribution Distribution JJohn ohn O Overton verton – 001242 1242 541075 541075 leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk leaflets@thelocalanswer.co.uk

LLouis ouis Jordan Jordan ddistribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk istribution@thelocalanswer.co.uk

As we say goodbye to summer and welcome autumn, we have plenty of editorials to get you into the cosy spirit. We’ve got seasonal gardening tips, a warming autumn pie recipe, and tips to make your home more efficient during the colder months. Be sure to check these out when reading this month’s issue.

Gloucester Day on 7th September was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who had a go on our Tombola – you helped us to raise over £400 for our Charity of the Year, Cobalt!

We have some very exciting news this month with the launch of our brand new Online Business Directory! See inside for more details.

This is also the last month for you to enter our TLA Photography competition to find the covers for next year’s publications. If you’d like to see your photo on the cover of 180,000 magazines, get your entries in by 31st October.

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SPIDER SPOOKY TRICK OR TREAT VAMPIRE WEREWOLF WITCH ZOMBIE

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The Local Answer

Delicious D elicious Dish Dish with w ith H Helen elen Kingscott Kingscott

Autumn Autumn lamb lamb pie pie A ttasty asty a alternative lternative tto o tthe he ttraditional raditional S Shepherd’s hepherd’s P Pie ie – perfect perfect for for warming warming y you ou u up po on n a ccold old a autumn utumn n night. ight.

IIngredients: ngredients: 1½ tbsp olive oil; 1 large onion; 1 garlic clove, chopped, or use 1 tsp of lazy garlic; 500g minced lamb; 4 baking potatoes; 2 tsp garam masala; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp lazy ginger; 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce; 1 tbsp plain flour; 1 lamb stock pot or stock of your choice made up to 275ml; 1 tbsp tomato puree; 1 tbsp butter; ½ tsp dried chilli flakes; splash of lemon juice; 3 tbsp chopped coriander; 50g fresh breadcrumbs; 6 tbsp grated parmesan/cheddar.

M Method: ethod: 1 Pop the whole, scrubbed but unpeeled potatoes into a pan of cold water, bring to the boil and cook for about 25/30 minutes. Drain and leave to cool.

2 Heat 1½ tbsp olive oil in a heat proof casserole dish. Add the onion and cook for about three minutes on high to turn them nice and brown, reduce the heat and add the garlic for one minute.

3 Turn the heat back up, add the mince and brown all over.

4 Reduce the heat again and add 1½ tsp garam masala, cinnamon, ginger, Worcestershire sauce and flour, stirring it all well together.

5 Slowly add the stock, then the tomato puree.

Turn the heat very low and simmer for 30 minutes.

Abbb A b bbee y M i llll

6 Switch the oven on to 200°C (gas mark 6).

7 Peel the potatoes from the skins and mash them with the butter, chilli flakes, ½ tsp garam masala, lemon juice, coriander and a little salt.

8 Spoon the cooked mince into an oven proof baking dish and top with the potato mixture.

Sprinkle over the breadcrumbs and cheese of your choice.

9 Cook for 30 minutes until beautifully golden brown. Serve with your favourite seasonal vegetables.

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w www.abbeymill.com ww.abbeymill.com E Email shelley@abbeymill.com mail s helley@abbeymill.com Open All Year Telephone 01291 0 1 29 1 6 89228 ~ F or a brochure brochure q uote ‘‘2020 2 0 20 S pecial’ 7 Days a Week Telephone 689228 For quote Special’ Abbey Abbey Mill, Mill, Wye Wye Valley, Valley, Tintern, Tintern, Monmouthshire Monmouthshire NP16 NP16 6SE 6SE Daily from 10.30am

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Police Police and and Crime Crime Commissioner Commissioner Martin Martin Surl’s Surl’s

ANNUAL A NNUAL R REPORT EPORT T A April pril 2 2018-March 018-March 2019 2019

1,382 GO MISSING IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE The hidden challenge to fighting crime The primary task of all Police and Crime Commissioners, as laid down by the former Home Secretary who defined the role, is to reduce crime. What is apparent is that the role of the Constabulary is now more than just that.

Whilst crime throughout the UK is rising, the increase in Gloucestershire has been much less than other comparable areas.

Gloucestershire is still one of the safest places in which to live, the question is, can we keep it that way?

As the range and complexity of crimes continues to grow, the answer is further complicated by the additional social issues around mental health and lack of youth provision. With much of the Constabulary’s time now spent as first responders health crisis that is gripping ou what you might call ‘convent police work is being squeezed Records show that from January to May this year, the were 1,382 Missing ‘episo recorded by the constabular of those were linked to health; 269 related to child mental health problems. Inde our missing individuals are ch 43% of those cases, menta factor.

Research also suggests tha child goes missing 18 tim compounded by the fact tha recorded are between the hours of 6pm-7am.This may be as a result of other statutory services being unavailable but if the Constabulary is now the agency of first resort as well as last, the time it has to spend on burglary, assault, anti-social behaviour, vehicle and other crimes is bound to be reduced.

Of course, it could be the increase is due to more accurate recording and the partnership work underway to ensure ‘missing’ is reported at the right time. Certainly, there has been significant collaboration with multi-

y care plans for those who are ntly missing or are in crisis. ithstanding the impact on families nds, it is an immense strain on police s. Callous as it sounds to evaluate a roblem in terms of hard cash, in the f a Constabulary under considerable pressure it is not unreasonable. Set an expanding workload, it is mand is kept to a level that the police can deaal with. Otherwise, when do they find the time to tackle crime which the public quite reasonably expects?

Finding answers to the causes and consequences around mental health requires a multi-agency approach.

The first priority of the police will always be to keep people safe, but they are having to do more with less and have been for some time now.

M Martin arrttin S Surl url Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire

You Y ou can police Martin can read read more more aabout bout tthe he cchallenges hallenges ffacing acing tthe he p olice iin n PPCC CC M artin SSurl’s url’s annual annual report report online: online: https://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ h ttps://www.gloucestershire-pcc.gov.uk/reports/ FFor or a p rinted ccopy, opy, email email the the Office Office of of the the Police Police and and Crime Crime Commissioner Commissioner at at printed PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk or or call call 01452 754348 01452 754348 PCC@gloucestershire.pnn.police.uk

P Parenting arenting & G Guardianship uardianship w with ith R Roberta oberta S Smart mart

Time Time to to change? change?

No matter what the time of year, we all find ourselves facing moments of realisation in our lives. That moment when it hits you: something has to change.

Maybe it’s seeing a picture of yourself on holiday and feeling unhappy with your appearance, so deciding to change your look, hair or maybe take up a fitness regime.

Perhaps you smoke or drink and a casual distraction has grown into a rather major habit, leaving you feeling dissatisfied.

Maybe you are at the end of your tether with the behaviour of others in the family (not always the kids, it could be a spouse, sibling or even a parent) and you have had enough!

The list of possibilities is endless and as I have been approached so often in recent months for help with effecting change, I thought I would share some top tips with you, my lovely reader.

G Get et rreal eal First thing’s first: accept where you are. Whatever you are

facing, face it! ‘Know your numbers,’ as they say in the business world. Get really clear on your starting point and come to terms with it.

Stop seeing it as a bad thing, the enemy or a problem. It just ‘is’. Ok? Now visualise how you would prefer things to be.

What does that look like? More importantly, what does it feel like? What emotional state is connected to your desired outcome? Calm? Happy? Safe?

Relaxed? Confident?

Baby B aby steps steps Now look at the gap between here and there, and make a rough pathway between the two. For example, between smoking 20 a day and quitting you may see ‘ smoking 10 a day’, ‘only buying X supplies per week’, ‘limiting the times you smoke’, etc. before finally making the ultimate decision to stop and step into a new identity as a non-smoker.

Or with behaviours, you may be at the end of your tether and want to feel relaxed, so The Local Answer

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you step through self care, calming your mind, managing your emotions, setting boundaries, holding them, making declarations and following through, and letting go of control before you get to a realisation that others are changing around you.

Mind M ind map map Use a mind map to note down the areas of your life and how you feel about them. Draw a circle with you in the middle, then concentric circles outward for body, home, family, work, social life, health, wealth, spirituality, fun, etc.

Then colour code the circles red for ‘urgent attention needed’, orange for ‘pay attention’ and green for ‘go – all good’.

The key to effective change is this: accept where you are right now, commit to change in order to feel better, and then take action and move forward step by step.

Make October the month you made it happen – you know you can!

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Wildlife W ildlife M Matters atters w with ith M Maxine axine R Raggatt aggatt

S Secretive ecretive spiders id Some people don’t mind them and some people hate them but regardless of our feeling spiders are everywhere. The can be tucked away in th corner of a shed or scurryin out from underneath the sofa Most of the time we don realise they are there, as thes arachnids don’t like to be bothered. Spiders are, in fact, useful to our ecosystem as they control the population o insects by eating bloodsuckin and crop-destroying pests.

Spiders spin their webs our gardens all year round.

During the end of summer into autumn, you will see many fully-grown common species.

There are over 650 species of spider in the UK, most of which go unseen. Many of these species tend to live out in nature rather than in and around houses.

B Best est to to leave leave them them alone alone The biggest spider in the UK is the cardinal spider, which can grow up to 14cm. You may also see giant house spiders,

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hiding in your home or shed. It is best to leave spiders alone to take shelter through the colder months. If you really cannot stand to let them stay in your house, then use a glass and paper to move them outside and pop them in with some greenery, rather than squashing them.

Silky S ilky w webs ebs Spiders have silk glands which produce a watery gel of long protein chains to make their

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provide different types of silk from super sticky to extra fine.

The T he sshy hy ffalse alse widow widow The false widow spider is now widespread throughout England.

They usually prefer to live indoors in places such as sheds and outhouses. These widows will often hide away in a hole by their web during the day and only come out at night, usually staying close to their web.

The females are considerably bigger than the males and live up to three years, whereas the males often live for only one.

False widows don’t move particularly fast; neither are they aggressive unless threatened. If a false widow bit you, it is similar to that of a wasp sting. This will usually result in pain and stinging but will tend to subside after a while.

They are generally nothing to worry about, and it is advised to wash the area with soap and water and apply antiseptic cream. In rare cases, they can result in an allergic reaction or bacterial infection, which can happen with any bite. When in doubt, seek medical attention.

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Interi t ✔ Toerll oDe esign Furrnisshi hings Skip Hire ur readers about your business with a bespoke company profile page*

Paint P ter Sport rts Club b Nursing Home ✔ 180,000 magazines pointing readers to the directory every month Win dows ws, Doors & Conse C rvatorries *Only *Only available available on on Platinum Platinum L Listings. istings. S See ee w website ebsite ffor or m more ore d details. etails.

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F FREE REE G GOLD OLD L LISTING ISTING

ReFor every customer that advertises in our printed re magazine, for the duration of your booking.

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BECOME A COVER STAR!

Have you entered our photography competition yet? We are looking for images of food, animals, plants, everyday objects and more to represent the four seasons of the year.

The winning photographs will appear on the covers of our 2020 publications!

How to enter: Send your image(s) along with your name, postal address and telephone number to photography@thelocalanswer.co.uk stating ‘TLA Photography 2020’. We cannot accept postal entries. Any photos sent in the post may not be returned. The closing date for entries is Thursday 31st October 2019. Entries received after midnight on this date will not be accepted.

You must specify for which month you wish your photo to be considered for the front cover and submit no more than three photos (one photo per month for up to three months).

For full competition rules, as well as image criteria and specifications, please visit:

thelocalanswer.co.uk/competitions.aspx Page 10

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The Local Answer

Holidays H olidays & Travel Travel w with ith A All H Hidden idden

Venetian V enetian class class ‘La Serenissima', ‘The Queen of the Adriatic’ or ‘The Floating City’: whatever your preferred sobriquet for Venice, it’s among the world’s most popular and distinctive destinations. Let’s be honest, who hasn’t dreamed of a romantic gondola ride – with or without a Cornetto in hand?

Despite concerns about environmental issues and touristic pressures, Venice’s appeal continues unabated with over 25 million visitors annually.

And for good reason: its signature canals and bridges; narrow alleys; architectural gems such as the Doge’s Palace (tip: book in advance to circumvent queues); and delicious cuisine.

Catch C atch a w water ater ttaxi... axi...

Fly into Venice or evoke the romance of the Venice SimplonOrient-Express as you cross Ponte della Libertà to Santa Lucia station. Then catch a motoscafi water taxi into the city – book a private hotel transfer for maximum convenience and style. Book early for the best accommodation too, be it the five-star Gritti Palace or – our recommendation – highly-rated Hotel Ala on Campo Santa Maria del Giglio in San Marco’s heart.

Whether on foot or by vaporetto water bus, you must sample the obligatory sights.

Please venture ‘off-piste’ too, because getting lost in Venice is a traveller’s joy.

Savour espresso overlooking the traditional Squero di San Trovaso gondola boatyard. Or seek out adorable Paso de Chiodo footbridge in Cannaregio.

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And while you’re in this most northerly of Venice’s ‘sestieri’, squeeze down impossiblynarrow Calle Varisco before refuelling on delicious Sarde in Saor, Spaghetti al Nero di Seppia, carnival-time’s moreish Frittelle doughnuts or other treats.

....or ..or an an iconic iconic g gondola ondola And so to gondolas, the definitive Venetian icons.

Consider avoiding €100-plus rides on the gondola-choked Grand Canal. Instead, enjoy lesser-known – but equally beguiling – waterways.

And for the cheapest, yet gondola most authentic, experience? Join Venetians on cheap two-minute Canal Grande crossings by ‘traghetto’ gondola – and test your sea legs as To advertise call 0122 510500

you rub shoulders with the locals.

Whether you stay near Piazza San Marco or venture further afield around Venice’s lagoon to glass-making Murano or Chioggia’s ‘Little Venice’, when is the best time to visit? The consensus seems to be late spring or early autumn – with November an atmospheric alternative if the smallest crowds are your priority.

So pack Laura Morelli’s (fictional) ‘The Gondola Maker’ or Barry Frangipane’s (factual) ‘The Venice Experiment’ and explore the locations of movies as diverse as Nicolas Roeg’s haunting ‘Don’t Look Now’, ‘Death in Venice’ or ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ as you discover ‘La Serenissima’ for yourself.

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We W e ccare are about about the the environment environment

For a few hours each month in the following specific areas:

Amberley • Cam • Dursley Nailsworth • Wotton-under-Edge Each round is made up of 150-400 copies per month.

The rate of pay is 6 pence/copy. Depending on property types, our current team of people average between 100150 copies/hour (equivalent to £6-£9/hour).

Magazines are delivered to T The h e Loc Lo c al al Distributors’ homes towards the A ANS NS WER WER end of each month and we expect deliveries to be completed within four days between the hours of 7am and 9 p m.

You must be 13+ years old, flexible, reliable and sufficiently physically fit to perform the STROUD D STROU DISTRIC ISTRICT duties.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE G LOUCESTERSHIRE’’S S BIGGEST B IGGEST LLOCAL OCAL MAGAZINE MA AGAZINE OCTOBER OCTOBER 2019 2019

OUR O UR N NEW EW O ONLINE NLINE B BUSINESS USINESS D DIRECTORY IRECTORY IISS LLIVE! IVE! D DETAILS ETAILS IINSIDE NSIDE

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Precision C olour Printing Printing Ltd Ltd (our (our printer) Precision Colour printer) a are re proud tto o be be a Forest Forest StewardStewardproud ship Council Council (FSC) (FSC) ccertificate ertificate ship holder, and and T he Local Local Answer Answer is is holder, The proud tto o have have this this p ublication proud publication printed on on p aper ccompliant ompliant with with printed paper FSC d emands to to support support FSC demands environmentally a p p r o p r i a t e, environmentally appropriate, socially b eneficial, and and economeconomsocially beneficial, ically vviable iable management management o he ically off tthe world’s forests. forests. world’s

A ffully-recyclable ully-recyclable p product roduct As paper, As well well as as tthe he p aper, the the inks inks and and varnishes The varnishes used used iin n producing producing T he Local Answer are biodegradable.

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The process used byy rrecycling The p rocess u sed b ecycling companies and companies to to extract extract iinks nks a nd coatings coatings including including UV U V vvarnishes arnishes from from paper tthe he p aper render render paper tthe he p aper ssuitable uitable ffor or pulping pulping a and nd rrecycling. ecycling.

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Motoring M otoring w with ith T Toby oby A Aiken iken

L Looks, ooks, comfort comfort and and performance performance If you’ve never driven an Alfa, there will be something missing in your understanding of them.

If you’ve never owned one, you’re missing something else: the ability to call yourself a petrol head.

Before I start (or at least before I really get started) I should say that for some time I was critical of Alfa for making an SUV. Historically, that’s not what the marque was about. It was about bonkers stuff – amazing handling, crazy power, stupendous style, but not sensible, reliable family life.

IIss A Alfa lf a a g good ood iinvestment nvestment ffor or a ffamily amily S SUV? UV ?

But leaving that aside, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Speciale looks amazing. It has good looks, comfort and performance so it should satisfy most camps... but it’s Italian and (let’s face it) an Alfa. Given their reputation for build quality and attention to detail, is Alfa a good investment for a family looking for an SUV? Possibly not.

I should preface this by saying that at one point in the last 15 The Local Answer

years both my wife and I owned an Alfa of our own. As I said, you can’t be a petrol head until you’ve owned an Alfa and loved it anyway.

My wife’s 147 was a dream. It rarely missed a beat. It remained at its best for years and brought my son home from hospital after his birth – in the snow – and I felt safe (still hands down the most harrowing drive of my life, by the way).

My 156, however, appeared to have been built at 4.55pm on a Friday afternoon with glorious weather and the Italian equivalent of a bank holiday in the offing. It was horrific, to the ex tent tha t I got hold o f a c opy of Alfa’s diagnostic software and bought myself a set of diagnostic cables so I could reset the numerous fault codes every other week or so.

But, I still loved that car. It was amazing. Even when it wasn’t working.

And that reputation endures.

My neighbour asked if the Stelvio was as quirky as you’d expect from an Italian car. At the time I said no, but on a week To advertise call 0122 510500

away with the family the Satnav went full Italian on me. The main display said I had to turn right in 1 mile. The dash display said to turn left at the exact same point. Neither resolved themselves until I chose one.

Like I say, very Alfa.

G Give ive Alfa Alfa half half a chance chance a and nd y you ou w will ill ffall all iin n llove ove But, as with my piece of rubbish 156, I loved it anyway. It was flawed, but with such character that it was somehow endearing.

This was not meant to be a commentary on Alfa Romeo as a manufacturer but I think for the uninitiated it serves as a good recommendation.

They may not be reliable, they may not always make sense, but give Alfa a chance and you will, as I have, fall in love.

Giving it back though, I felt... nothing. I like the car but it’s missing something compared to the Alfas of old. It was missing a soul. Luckily, they make a Quadrifoglio version, with a 2.9 litre bi-turbo V6. Now that may spark some feelings.

Page 15

What s On The Local Answer Event Listings are compiled and presented in good faith with the kind support of many contributors. We recommend you use the contact details provided to check event information updates prior to planning your visit.

12 SEPTEMBER – 12 DECEMBER STROUD HARMONY SINGERS COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE CHOIR Pop, Soul, Jazz, Blues, Folk – original arrangements and compositions. New members welcome! No auditions.

Private coaching available. Thursdays 7.45-9.30pm. Cashes Green Community Centre, Stroud. tessvox22@mail.com or 07425 139767.

1 OCTOBER AUCTION OF PROMISES, BIDDING OPENS As part of Cobalt’s charitable partnership with local auctioneers Chorley’s, we are running an amazing auction of promises in October with some very special prizes. Bidding for the prizes opens on October 1st. cobalthealth.co.uk/auction-of-promises 5 OCTOBER HOLST BIRTHDAY CONCERT We are delighted to welcome back the superb Cheltenham Chamber Orchestra (conductor Timothy Carey), who will be joined by solo viola player Ana Teresa Alves. 7.30pm. £16. St Andrew’s United Reformed Church, Montpellier, Cheltenham, GL50 1SP. www.holstmuseum.org.uk 5, 6, 12 & 13 OCTOBER HARVEST FESTIVAL PEAR PRESSING Dyrham has a long history of making pears into perry so why not come and have a go at this enjoyable tradition?

Gather in the stables where you can buy 5 pears for £1.50 and make and try your own juice. Admission applies. See www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park for details. Dyrham Park, SN14 8HY.

6 OCTOBER DEVIL’S AQUATHLON AT SANDFORD PARK’S LIDO A real challenge for a good cause. A 400m or 2K swim at the Lido then a 10K run up to the Devil’s Chimney on Leckhampton Hill and back. 8-11am.

For more information or to sign up go to www.sandfordparkslido.org.uk/ events/2019-10-06-the-devils-aquathlon Managed in partnership with Sandford Lido Ltd and Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund.

10 OCTOBER THE STRAYS Part of their debut album ‘Drop Out Zone’ tour, Cheltenham band The Strays will be playing The Prince Albert in Stroud. 8-11pm. The Prince Albert Inn, Rodborough Hill, Stroud GL5 3SS. facebook.com/the strayslive 10, 12, 16 & 19 OCTOBER JULIUS CAESAR The Cotswold Players will be bringing this modern retelling of the Shakespeare play as part of the Stroud Festival’s ‘Revolution In The Arts’ theme. £12/£8. 7.30pm. The Cotswold Playhouse, Parliament Street, Stroud, GL5 1LW. cotswoldplayhouse.co.uk 11 OCTOBER COBALT’S AUCTION OF PROMISES As part of Cobalt’s charitable partnership with local auctioneers Chorley’s, we are running an amazing auction of promises with some very special prizes. 11am. Prinknash Abbey Park. Open to the public so please do come along to the charity auction event. Fantastic lots and loads of fun! cobalthealth.co.uk/auction-of-promises

12-13 OCTOBER CAPRIOL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AND JAMES BRAWN As part of the Beethoven 250 celebrations the Capriol Chamber Orchestra will be joined by esteemed pianist James Brawn for a concert playing some of Beethoven’s much loved works. 7.30pm. £12/£10 on the door or £11/£9 in advance from Stroud Sub Rooms Box Office on 01453 796880.

Holy Trinity Church, 1 Trinity Road, Stroud GL5 2HX. capriolorchestra.co.uk 12-13 OCTOBER DOG SWIM Our annual Dog Swim event returns at the end of our season, following all human swimming sessions. 10am-2pm. £10 (includes 1 dog and 2 human entries) additional spectators £3.

Sandford Parks Lido, Keynsham Road, GL53 7PU. sandfordparkslido.org.uk 18 OCTOBER STROUD SHINDIG A brand new annual event for Stroud with artists, DJs and performers from around Gloucestershire including Jonny Fluffypunk and the Mighty John Street Ska Orchestra. £20/£12. 8pm.

The Subscription Rooms, George Street, GL5 1AE. thesubrooms.co.uk 26 OCTOBER COFFEE MORNING IN AID OF COBALT From 10.30am. All welcome. If you have any cakes, books, tombola or raffle donations, please call Cobalt on 01242 535920. Emmanuel Church, Fairfield Parade, Cheltenham, GL53 7PJ. All proceeds to Cobalt’s Breast Cancer Research Nurses Fund.

Festive event coming up?

Promote your event in our What’s On section in print and receive a FREE equivalent listing on our website!

Email info@thelocalanswer.co.uk Event listings start from only £25+VAT in print or £12 online.

Page 16

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The Local Answer

26 OCTOBER PITTVILLE BREAST CANCER CHARITY BALL In aid of Cobalt and Focus. An evening of dinner, dancing, live auction and fun at Pittville Pump Room. This event is organised by volunteer Sarah Cook.

For further information email pittvillebcball@gmail.com or buy tickets online www.bookwhen.com/ pittvillebreastcancerball WOODCHESTER MANSION HALLOWEEN PARTY Scary fancy dress is compulsory at the annual gothic Halloween Party with a prize for best costume on offer.

Ticket price includes dinner, over 18s only. 7.30pm-12am. £35. Woodchester Mansion, Nympsfield, Stonehouse, GL10 3TS. woodchestermasion.org.uk 26-27 OCTOBER MODEL RAILWAY EXHIBITION Layouts, refreshments, children drive yourself Thomas. Raising funds for Pied Piper at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. St. Margaret’s Hall, Coniston Road, off Windermere Road, Hatherley, Cheltenham GL51 3NU. 10am-5pm. Full details at www.cheltmodrail.org.uk FAMILY AUTUMN FESTIVAL A host of autumnal activities will be on offer including an autumn trail, produce and cider tasting, and the chance to hunt for the golden apple.

Painswick Rococo Garden, Painswick, Gloucestershire, GL6 6TH. Full details at www.rococogarden.org.uk 26 OCTOBER – 3 NOVEMBER OCTOBER HALF TERM AT WWT SLIMBRIDGE Try out bird watching, venture out on a canoe safari, take part in the migration game and meet WWT researchers in the Arctic Adventure Experience. WWT, Slimbridge, GL2 7BT. Full details at www.wwt.org.uk WITCHES, BATS AND EERIE TALES Experience a Halloween trail around Newark Park, make withces out of clay, listen to scary stories in the

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house and learn about the bats that live in the grounds. Newark Park, Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7PZ. nationaltrust.org.uk/newark-park 27-30 OCTOBER ALL HALLOWS WEEK Featuring an audience with King Henry VIII and his two beheaded wives, an executioner, witches and more. Berkeley Castle, GL13 9BQ. Full details at www.berkeley-castle.com 29 OCTOBER LITTLE HOWLERS A new night of comedy from Howlers Comedy Club designed especially for kids. Line up includes Cerys Nelmes, Matt Green and Jarred Christmas and Hobbit. 2.30-5pm. £10/£8. Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, GL50 1QA. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk 30 & 31 OCTOBER WESTONBIRT SHOPPING FAIR Over 130 stalls selling exciting and innovative fashion, jewellery and homeware. Meet friends for coffee or lunch. Feel good about spending to support local charities. Westonbirt School, Tetbury GL8 8QG. www.westonbirtfair.org 31 OCTOBER REVOLUTION IN SONG – A NIGHT AT THE OPERA Part of the Stroud Festival, this night of music has been curated by messosoprano Clare McCaldin and will feature works from Sondheim, Debussy, Mozart and more on the theme of ‘revolution’. 7.30-9.30pm. £15/£10. St Laurence Church, 52 High Street, Stroud, GL5 1JL. www.stroudfestival.org 1-2 NOVEMBER CHELTENHAM REAL ALE FESTIVAL Hosted by the Cheltenham branch of the Campaign For Real Ale, sample a range of ales, ciders and perries including a wide selection of vegan beers. 4-11pm. Cheltenham Ladies' College, Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, GL50 3EP. cheltenhamcamra.org.uk

To advertise call 0122 510500

2 NOVEMBER – 7 DECEMBER INTRODUCTION TO GARDEN HISTORY Learn about the history of gardens, from the Middle Ages to the modern day through a series of lectures with Dr Audrey Gerber. 10am-1pm. £120.

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury GL8 8QS. forestryengland.uk/ westonbirt-the-national-arboretum 6-10 NOVEMBER STROUD BOOK FESTIVAL Celebrate all things literature with a number of events going on throughout the town, with renowned authors and workshops. Full details at www.stroudbookfestival.org.uk 9 NOVEMBER BONFIRE & FIREWORK DISPLAY – BURLEY LAKES FIREWORKS NIGHT Disco roadshow, pig roast, small fun fair with new rides, burgers, chips and licensed bar at Burley Fields Lakes, Leckhampton Lane, Cheltenham.

Gates open and bonfire lit at 5.30pm.

Kids Show at 7pm and Grand Finale at 8.30pm. Last admission 8.15pm. Adults and children £5 in advance, £7 on the night. Tickets on sale at Burley Fields Lakes Farm Shop, Sardar’s Cafe (Warden Hill) and Bargain Booze (Bath Road). Call Steve on 07831 734683, Pam on 07769 700067 or 01242 861333. Strictly no alcohol, fireworks or sparklers to be brought in.

CHARITY CHRISTMAS FAIR A selection of gifts for sale and refreshments available, all raising funds for charity, including Cobalt.

10am to 12.30pm. Alderton Village Hall, 4 Church Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 8NR. 3-10 DECEMBER THE BIG GIVE CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE For seven days, all donations to Cobalt through www.thebiggive.org.uk will be DOUBLED making a fantastic £50,000 available to support Cobalt’s Breast Cancer Research Nurses. From 12 noon on the 3rd through to 12 noon on the 10th.

Page 1

Entertainment E ntertainment

IIff you you hhave ave a sstory tory ttoo share, share, pplease lease eemail mail ffull ull ddetails etails tto o TTom. om. with with Tom Tom Hadfield Hadfield ‒ entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk entertainment@thelocalanswer.co.uk

Tracy T racy S Spiers piers iillustrates llustrates Stroud’s Stroud’s history histor y It would be difficult to find someone who knows as much about Stroud as Tracy Spiers.

Bar a brief stint in Fiji, Tracy has lived and worked in the town all her life, as a journalist, lecturer, author and illustrator.

After attending Stroud High School, Tracy trained as a journalist and became the chief reporter of the Stroud News and Journal aged just 20.

She went on to work as a broadcast journalist for the BBC, a reporter for both Radio Gloucestershire and Points West, and also taught print journalism at Stroud College.

Throughout her career, which spans over thirty years, Tracy has maintained a keen interest in art and storytelling, culminating in her writing children’s books.

“I did art at A Level and picked it up again properly after having children,” she explained.

Tracy Spiers

“Alongside journalism I’ve always had a passion for history and everything I’ve learnt over the years has accumulated into this amazing thing.”

Her latest release, ‘Capel Cochineal and Stanley Sheep’s School Project: Stroud’s String of Pearls’, tells the story of Stroud’s textile heritage.

FFilm ilm Review Review – Joe Joe K Kennett ennett

Published in September by The History Press, the book is part of an ongoing project with local schools to teach children about the history of the area.

“I’ve been working with Stroud Valley Community School for around five months to put together this programme all about Stroud’s mills,” continued Tracy.

“It’s written as if by a year six pupil and includes spelling tests, suggests projects, all portraying history in a fun and playful way.

“I had brilliant support from teachers and local historians, and I think even the older generations and newcomers to Stroud might learn things about the area that they never knew before.”

Capel and Stanley’s book is available from book shops, and www.historypress.co.uk Amazon.

Full story online.

Book Book Review Review – Aloÿse Aloÿse of of Daylesford Daylesford Book Book Club Club

Good Good B Boys oys

Clock Clock D Dance ance by Anne Tyler

Take quite literally every stupid thing you may have said or done as a child and cram it into a 90minute film; that’s essentially what first-time director Gene Stupnitsky has done with ‘Good Boys’.

On face value, the movie has all the potential to be a complete flop, with generic ‘boy’ humour and a plot line which could definitely be strengthened.

Yet what we actually get is a brilliant new comedy with some real heart and emotion behind the storyline. Starring Jacob Tremblay, Keith Williams and Brady Noon in their biggest roles to date, these newcomers earn their rightful place on the big screen with commendable rapport and unforced acting, which suffers (L-R) Keith Williams as Lucas, Jacob sometimes Tremblay as Max and Brady Noon with a younger cast. as Thor. Image: Universal Pictures Full review online.

Clock Dance is the 22nd novel from the much loved American author Anne Tyler.

At the age of 61, Willa Drake has led a seemingly dull life with only a handful of defining moments until her son’s ex-girlfriend is shot. In a totally out of character decision she crosses the country, from Arizona to Baltimore, to take care of this woman, her daughter and dog.

Accompanied by her patronising husband Peter, who refers to Willa as ‘little one’, she is out of her comfort zone but surprises herself with her capabilities and her increasing pleasure in being part of this odd ball community.

This may not be Anne Tyler’s finest novel but it deserves careful reading and savouring of the characters in the book. Each is described with Tyler’s characteristic tenderness and dry humour.

Full review online.

Above Above is is a selection selection ffrom rom local local entertainment entertainment stories stories available available online online ... ...

A Art rt • E Events vents • E Experiences xperiences • F Film ilm • L Lifestyle ifestyle L Literature iterature • M Music usic • R Reviews eviews • T Theatre heatre • T TV V

P Players layers take take on on Shakespeare Shakespeare The Cotswold Players are one of the county’s oldest and most popular amateur dramatics companies.

Formed in the early twentieth century, the group has performed productions nearly every year since 1912 – with obvious breaks due to the First and Second World Wars.

This month the Players are due to return to the stage at the Cotswold Playhouse in Stroud – the venue that they have called home since 1953 – with their very own version of William Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’.

The production will be a contemporary retelling of the story – ‘stripped back, fast-moving, up-to-date, full of surprises, and packed with modern technology’.

Director Jonathan Vickers explains the thinking behind the reworked show.

The Cotswold Playhouse

He said: “We’re doing it as part of the Stroud Festival, which has the theme this year of ‘Revolution in the Arts’.

“Julius Caesar is already about revolution but we’re doing two revolutionary things with our version – it’s in the future, with Twitter feeds and video calls alongside the blood and smoke and violence.

“Secondly when we cast the

roles we didn’t think about gender and so Julius Caesar and other traditionally male characters will be played by women.”

The show features a cast of 33, with the whole team, including those backstage and involved in promotion, adding up to around 70 people.

For Jonathan – who has been with the Players for a decade as both an actor and director – it will be his first time directing a Shakespearean play.

“I think this will be my fifth time directing,” he continued.

“I enjoy both acting and directing and it benefits each role by trying the other.”

‘Julius Caesar’ will be at the Cotswold Playhouse from Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th and Wednesday 16th to Saturday 19th October.

Full story online.

B Beethoven eethoven ccelebrations elebrations iin nS Stroud troud December marks the beginning of the Beethoven 250 celebrations, when people all over the world will start commemorating 250 years since the composer’s birth throughout 2020.

In anticipation of the year-long celebrations, the Stroud-based Capriol Chamber Orchestra are set to bring Beethoven to the town this month with special guest pianist James Brawn.

The Capriol Chamber Orchestra is made up of amateur and professional players from Stroud and the surrounding areas.

Founded in 1988 by Bruce Critchinson, the Orchestra is now directed by Jonathan Trim and led by Steve McDade.

“We perform a wide range of pieces from the 18th to 21st century and have a history of attracting soloists of a very high

The Capriol Chamber Orchestra and James Brawn. Photo: Paul Roberts

calibre,” said Angie Spencer, violinist.

“We rehearse monthly and stage three concerts a year, as well as enjoying a good reputation for our ability to provide high quality orchestral accompaniment for choral societies.”

The concert will be at Holy

Trinity Church in Stroud on Saturday 12th October at 7.30pm.

Tickets are £12 and £10 for concessions on the door, with a £1 reduction when bought in advance from the Stroud Sub Rooms box office.

Full story online.

For For full full articles articles and and m more ore sstories tories vvisit isit w www.thelocalanswer.co.uk ww.thelocalanswer.co.uk

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C Compost ompost your your fallen fallen leaves leaves October is a lovely month, even though the nights are drawing in. The colours of the turning leaves and the spiders’ webs glistening with dew strung across the garden in the morning make it one of the most beautiful times of year.

As mentioned last month, you can now sow sweet-peas ready for next year. Soak them for a few hours in some water to help them germinate, then sow 1.5cm deep in seed compost in a 13cm pot, several seeds per pot. Cover with glass or polythene until the seeds germinate and then stand out in the garden in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or just somewhere sheltered to overwinter.

U Use se o one ne ccompost ompost h heap eap w whilst hilst tthe he o other ther rrots ots Collect up fallen leaves and compost in a separate ‘leaf bin’. This could be chicken wire wrapped round four stout posts set at the corners. If you have two made, you can use

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one whilst the other is rotting down, as it takes a good year to create leaf-mold. Put a layer of some sort of membrane like plastic on the bottom to stop weeds growing up through the leaf-mold.

Alternatively, if you don’t have much space, put the leaves into black bin-liners – half fill the bags and prick some holes in, then store somewhere outside.

Evergreen leaves don’t compost well and would need shredding (things like holly, laurel and Mahonia). They drop all year but largely in August.

Don’t let leaves lie on heathers, dwarf conifers and other small shrubs, as they can cause disease. They shouldn’t be left on the lawn either.

However, if deciduous leaves are lying on the flower borders in which all the perennials have died back they can be left – by springtime they will have disappeared if the worms are doing their job!

To advertise call 0122 510500

G Get et rrid id of of box box tree tree ccaterpillars aterpillars My garden has been plagued with box tree caterpillars this year for the first time. I had heard about them but was quite complacent until I noticed a small bit of densely woven webbing on one of the box balls.

On closer inspection I found a fat caterpillar and realised that it had been decimating the leaves! I inspected my other box balls and found them on quite a few, and furthermore as I searched in the leaves the hatched moths were taking to the sky (well, the ones I didn’t grab first!)

There are insecticides such as BugClear Ultra that you can spray, but you must penetrate the webbing for them to be effective. I don’t like using sprays so I have picked off and disposed of any caterpillars and given the plants a good drench with a seaweed tonic to help them perk up. It is a good idea to clear any leaf litter from underneath the plants and mulch after feeding.

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First F irst iimpressions mpressions It’s easy to forget the outside of your house when you spend most of your time inside.

Nothing says “welcome” more than a freshly painted front door. Try an interesting new colour like smart grey or soft blue/green. Pots of colourful or architectural plants are a quick and easy way to add style.

Last October I was in the US visiting my daughter and I loved the bright orange pumpkins, golden chrysanthemums and seasonal wreaths outside all the pretty clapboard houses.

Cut C ut tthe he cclutter lutter In my experience, most hallways end up messy and full of

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clutter, whether it’s coats, shoes or bags, and it gets even worse in winter with muddy boots! It’s time to sort through and rehome what you can elsewhere in the house, or utilise the space under the stairs with hooks and shelving.

Add some extra storage in the hall, maybe a bespoke unit for coats and shoes, or a row of attractive baskets for hats and scarves. You can instantly create a more spacious and tranquil feel.

L Let et tthere here b be e light light Arriving home to a light and stylish entrance will immediately make you feel calm. I have lots of downlights in my hall to make it bright and welcoming, or why not go for a statement light fitting for more impact?

Mirrors in a hallway are essential, not just for reflecting light and making it look spacious, but so you can check the way you look before rushing out the door. Big and bold is a good rule of thumb for mirrors.

Set S et the the tone tone

Create C reate a gallery gallery

Your hallway sets the tone for the rest of the house. It should smell good; I always have a basket of fragrant flowers or a beautiful scented diffuser on my hall table.

For walls I love light neutral colours like Farrow and Ball’s Ammonite. If you prefer something more dramatic, look up Kit Kemp on Pinterest for some lovely ideas. If you can afford to change your flooring, hard floors are more practical – natural wood is very on trend, and you could add a rug for a pop of colour.

Finally, your entrance hall should say something about you. If you have room for an item of furniture, make sure it makes a statement – it could be a lovely painted console table, or an interesting piece found in antique market.

For that personal touch, try creating a gallery wall of favourite artworks or family photos. Have fun channelling your inner creative side.

Now you are ready to welcome your visitors into your home.

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G Gadgets adgets & G Gizmos izmos w with ith L Laura aura N Nicklin icklin

Ghastly Ghastly gadgets gadgets & g garish arish gizmos gizmos ‘Tis the season of pump spice, jack o’ lanterns an as many pictures of autum leaves as you can post o Instagram. With Halloween creeping around the corne and the colder weathe setting in, now’s the time t gander at some of the lates gizmos coming out th month.

Thermos S Thermos Super uper L Light ight Direct D irect D Drink rink F Flask lask Lakeland: £21.99 Whether you’re going for a morning jog, or simply walking to work, this stylish flask from Lakeland will keep your beverage nice and warm – or chilled if the colder weather doesn’t put you off – with its airtight seal. You don’t even need to stop to carefully unscrew the lid; simply use the flip-up lid with the push of a button.

The flask has also been designed to cool down hot drinks, so you can drink directly from it without burning your tongue and making a numpty of yourself in

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button, and the camera ncludes a built-in privacy shutter. Just download the free Alexa app onto your Fire OS, Android, iOS device or desktop browser to get started.

Mountfield M ountfield M MBV48LI BV48LI C Cordless ordless Leaf eaf Blower Blower

Amazon E Amazon Echo cho S Show how 5 Smart S mart S Speaker peaker

John Lewis: £139.99 Yes, the red and orange hues of crisp autumn leaves may be photogenic, and a Pinterest lover’s dream for some homemade arts and crafts, but they can also be a right mess.

Hence why the Mountfield MBV48LI leaf blower (try saying that six times fast!) is the perfect tidying tool for your garden.

John Lewis: £79.99 Need a weather update?

Fancy listening to a podcast? Or perhaps you need to wake up the rest of the household? Simply ask Alexa. With the hands-free Echo Show 5, you can now manage your day with some help from the everpunctual Alexa.

With its 5.5” screen and lightweight design, this device will help you make hands-free calls and connect with other Echo devices using the Drop-In feature. It even works with smart home devices including cameras, lights and thermostats from brands including WeMo, Philips Hue, Netatmo, SmartThings, TP-Link, Hive and more.

You can turn the microphone and camera off at the touch of

With its DigiTorq brushless motor, this leaf blower produces a blast of air which can travel up to 174mph. You can switch between high and low power easily and save energy by varying the speed.

With up to 30 minutes of power, you can blast away any leaves or debris cluttering up your garden in no time at all.

public. And in case you’re extremely accident-prone, it also has a leakproof seal, so even if you end up knocking it over or turning it upside down, it won’t spill. With its sleek and portable design, you can easily slip this into your bag for an easier commute.

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S Save ave the the P Planet lanet with w ith L Louise ouise W Williams illiams

M Make ake your your home home more energy efficient more e nergy e fficient The weather is starting to get cooler and my husband and I begin our annual ‘Battle of the Boiler’ where I try and turn the heating on and he throws me an extra jumper!

In all seriousness though, we are both trying to do more to ensure that we are more energy efficient at home.

These are some of the tips I have picked up to make small changes that will hopefully add up to a big difference.

Don’t Don’t boil boil the the kettle kettle for for e every very ssingle ingle ccup up I drink a lot of tea, especially when I’m working from home, and my top tip is to make a pot and keep it covered with a cosy so that you are not boiling the kettle for every single cup. You can do the same for coffee and also invest in a decent thermos to keep it hot for hours.

Use draught excluders on all your external doors. You can even make your own very simply with some fabric and filling, and basic sewing skills.

Make sure any gaps around windows and doors are filled, especially in older houses.

Put on the extra jumper. It’s the advice my husband gives that irritates me so much, but it is actually very good. Often I sit and moan about feeling cold and I’m only wearing a tshirt!

IInvest nvest iin nw warm arm p pyjamas yjamas and and slippers slippers Add an extra blanket to your bed. This is something that I do a lot in winter, and also invest in some warm pyjamas and slippers.

Wool duvets. My husband and I have always had issues as he is too warm and I am too

cold. Last time we were duvet shopping, we were looking at all the different options and stumbled upon wool duvets and it’s been brilliant for both of us. It is somehow selfregulating and we can both sleep comfortably under it.

Don’t put the oven on for longer than needed. Get to know roughly how long yours takes to get up to temperature so you don’t have it on for hours unnecessarily.

Shower instead of bath. We all prefer showers over baths generally and just have baths as a special treat. When the children were younger and had more baths, I used to bathe them together and sometimes with me too. Not the most relaxing experience but it certainly saved water!

Research a Research and nd e evolve volve with w ith eco eco awareness awareness Those are a few of my top tips and I’m always searching for more. I think that we can constantly research and evolve with our eco awareness and I’m always striving to do better. I don’t always manage it but if we all try, we can make small changes that will hopefully make a big difference.

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The summer holidays are over, the kids are back at school and I’m thinking of putting the golf clubs away for the winter.

We are all in need of therapy from the nonsense that has been going on regarding our exit from the EU and the knock-on effects into our UK politics.

What better therapy than a dose of shopping?

What better excuse than buying a few Christmas presents?!

The big retailers are taking delivery of products by the lorry load and are about to launch their advertising campaigns to persuade us to spend the usual ‘small fortune’!

So what is the best approach to Christmas shopping? From a choice perspective, anything you want to be on offer will be available over the next couple of months. So if that’s what you’re after, now is the time to shop.

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From a financial perspective, you probably missed the boat. Alongside making products available, retailers are charging peak prices for their goods, making shopping over the next couple of months that much more expensive than it would have been if you’d shopped steadily over the last six months. Yes, I’m agreeing it’s never too early to shop for Christmas!

With the availability of online shopping and a society that won’t wait five minutes for anything, more and more people are buying things when they want them, not waiting for birthdays or Christmas. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find things to buy for loved ones at this joyous time of year.

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So my thoughts are that we shouldn’t try too hard. Don’t buy something just because the other person will buy for you, if there’s nothing that person wants. Give the money to charity instead.

Also don’t compete by trying to spend more because there is nothing you can get for your original budget. That’s the quickest way to build up a credit card debt that you’ll spend the first six months of next year trying to pay back.

Christmas is a time of goodwill to all people, not a time for getting deep into debt.

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R Rob ob F Fynn ynn iis s sstill till a m main ain m man an a att S Stroud troud In county cricket, players are often granted a benefit season if they’ve spent 10 years with a club.

It’s the same in football, a decade is considered to be the benchmark – although not many footballers spend that long with one club these days!

And if the same ‘rules’ were observed in hockey then Rob Fynn would be looking forward to his third testimonial season.

That’s because the 41-year-old has spent the past 29 years with Stroud Hockey Club and is still a player, head coach and junior coordinator today.

In fact, as sporting CVs go, Fynn’s has to be one of the better ones because in his time at the club he has also been 1st

XI captain, 2nd XI captain, mixed team captain, fixture secretary and umpire coordinator.

Fynn joined Stroud at the age of 12 following a short spell living away from the area after

R Running unning ffor or ffun un

A All ll ssystems ystems g go o

Darren Jewell will start this year’s Stroud Half Marathon at the back of the field.

In fact he will be the last runner to start because he has set himself the challenge of seeing how many people he can overtake in t he exp ected 2,000-runner field on Sunday 27th October.

The 41-year-old is hoping to raise money for charity at the same time and as challenges go it is certainly a little different.

Fortunately, Jewell likes a challenge and it’s fair to say that the bigger the test the more he’s fired up and ready to take it on.

He’s climbed a good number of sporting mountains over the years, but the biggest challenge he has overcome is most definitely a personal one.

“Eighteen years ago I had testicular cancer,” said Jewell, who lives in Rodborough. “Last year I ran a marathon every month to mark my 40th birthday and I raised more than £1,000 for Longfield Hospice in Minchinhampton.”

Top rugby referee Craig MaxwellKeys enjoyed a bit of extra downtime in the summer just gone.

The much later than usual start to the Premiership season due to the ongoing Rugby World Cup in Japan meant he was a able to Craig Maxwell-Keys chill for a few weeks longer than would normally be the case.

“Last season was wrapped up at the start of June and we weren’t fitness tested until the beginning of August,” MaxwellKeys said.

And it’s fair to say that the 29year-old made the most of his extended break, whether spending time at the Cheltenham Cricket Festival, holidaying in the Balkans or taking time out to go to a friend’s wedding in Toulouse.

Mind you, that additional time off will soon be forgotten once the top-level domestic season

Rob Fynn. Picture: Dev Toolbox Photography

his family moved to Scotland. “I started playing hockey at Marling School,” he said. “My mum always thought I’d play rugby – I’m pretty much a prop size – but I always thought rugby was a blunt instrument while hockey was much more skills based.”

So it was always hockey for Fynn, particularly after he met Terry Allen at Stroud Hockey Club.

“He had just started a youth team,” said Fynn. “I started off playing up front but he put me in the back line and I’ve played there ever since. These days I play sweeper, I’ve got no pace but for me it’s all about game management and skill on the ball.”

Full story online. gets under way on the penultimate weekend of October with very few spare weekends in the schedule until the end of June.

And A nd tthey’re hey’re off off The wait is almost over for racegoers as they look forward to what is sure to be another outstanding season at the home of National Hunt racing.

The 2019/20 campaign at Cheltenham Racecourse gets under way with the excellent two-day Showcase meeting on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October.

It’s the start of 16 days of racing at Prestbury Park spread over six months with the highlight, as always, being the Cheltenham Festival which this season runs from 10th-13th March.

That’s still a long way off of course and before that all eyes will be on The Showcase, which sees seven races running from 2pm until 5pm on both days.

For full versions of all thhese stories and more, please viisit our website: www.thhelocalanswer.co.uk

Above Above is is a selection selection ffrom rom local local entertainment entertainment stories stories available available online online ... ...

One o One off tthe he big big ssuccess uccess sstories tories Stroud Football iin n tthe he S troud F ootball League League As names for football clubs go, you’ve got to go some way to find one that is longer than Rodborough (and Cainscross) Old Boys Football Club.

And as success stories for football clubs go, there are few better over the past eight years or so than Rodborough (and Cainscross) Old Boys FC. The Stroud League club were registered only in 2011 and in that first season had just the one team competing in the basement division, which in those days was Division Eight.

Fast forward to the 2019/20 season and the club now field three teams, with the flagship team competing in the top flight of the Stroud League for a second consecutive year after winning five promotions on the bounce, while the reserves and 3rd team are playing in Division Four and Division Six respectively, a step up for both from the previous campaign.

It’s a resounding success story but while everything has happened very quickly, it’s a success story that in many ways has been a long time coming.

That’s because chairman Stuart Thompson, treasurer Darren Vasey, vice-chairman Warren Hearsum and 1st team manager Mark McNally were part of football in Rodborough prior to the formation of Rodborough (and Cainscross) Old Boys FC. “We were coaching at Rodborough Youth Football Club,” explained Thompson. “We were coaching the toddlers – my son was five at the time.

“We got our heads together and said it was great coaching all these kids – there were about 300 in the youth academy across all ages – but once they got to 16 there was nowhere for them to play in Rodborough.

“They either went off and played for someone else or, worse still, stopped playing altogether.

Rodborough (and Cainscross) Old Boys 2019/20

“So we thought why not form an adult football club that is affiliated to the youth section and provide a pathway for the youngsters?”

So they did and while Rodborough (and Cainscross) Old Boys Football Club is obviously on an upward trajectory, there are some great personal stories too because Thompson’s son Harley, who had been part of the youth set-up all those years previously, has recently graduated to senior football at the club to join a number of RYFC stars who already had made this transition.

All three adult teams play their home games at different venues and it was because the club initially played their home games at Victory Park in Ebley when they ran just the one team that they added ‘Cainscross’ to their name.

“Rodborough Youth Football Club used to play all over the place,” explained Thompson.

“We didn’t have a home ground, we were quite nomadic and we still are.

“The pitch at Victory Park is in the parish of Cainscross and the parish council were happy to support us so that’s why we added the name Cainscross.”

These days the 1st team play their home games at Stratford Court while the 3rd team play at Mason Road, but Victory Park remains home for the reserves.”

So that explains ‘Cainscross’ in the team title but what about ‘Old Boys’, where did that come from?

“We were talking to Ed Butcher, who was chairman of Rodborough Youth at the time,” continued Thompson.

“He told us that his dad John used to play for a junior section of a team called Rodborough Old Boys back in the 1950s when their senior team were in the Northern Senior League. So rather than start a new club we reformed the Old Boys club as a mark of respect for those who had previously represented it.”

And getting a place in the aforementioned Northern Senior League is certainly a major ambition for the club today. The flagship team finished mid-table in the top flight of the Stroud League last season, something that Thompson describes as a “wake-up call” after five successive promotions.

But the 90 minutes on a Saturday afternoon is by no means the only focus for the club’s committee.

“Our biggest ambition is to find and secure our own ground,” said Thompson. “We’ll always have to be a nomadic club because of the numbers, but we want to find a ground where we can have a clubhouse and call home. We want a hub.”

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C Competition ompetition W Winners inners The TLA Photography winner for the October 2019 cover is Letitia Newbegin.

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